The Sudbury Wolves won the first-ever OHL Priority Selection Draft Lottery on May 5 and will select first overall in the upcoming draft on June 4-5.
Each team participating in the first round of the 2021 Priority Selection had an equal opportunity to draw the first overall pick in the lottery process, with the final results determined by a computerized random number generator.
The coveted top spot came down to a reveal between the Wolves and the Oshawa Generals with the Wolves pulling the top spot. This will be the third time in the last six years that the Wolves have held the top spot in the OHL Priority Selection.
The top five picks in this year’s draft are as follows:
- Sudbury Wolves
- Oshawa Generals
- Guelph Storm
- Windsor Spitfires
- Kingston Frontenacs
In 2018 the Wolves selected Quinton Byfield with the first pick and in 2015 it was David Levin whose name was called by the Wolves at first overall.
For the first time since the implementation of the Priority Selection online in 2001, the event will be held over the course of two days, with the opening three rounds taking place on Friday, June 4 beginning at 7 p.m.
The proceedings resume on Saturday, June 5 starting at 9 a.m. with Rounds 4-15. The Priority Selection will be streamed live in its entirety on the OHL’s YouTube channel.
In grabbing the first overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection Draft, the Wolves will pick 20th among the OHL teams and 60th overall in the CHL Import Draft that is slated for Wednesday, June 30th
The OHL also facilitated a U18 Priority Selection Draft Lottery to determine the order of selection, with each of the league’s 20 member teams having an equal opportunity to draw the first overall pick.
The Wolves grabbed the sixth overall spot in the U18 Priority Selection Draft, picking just outside of the top five which is as follows:
- London Knights
- Saginaw Spirit
- Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
- Guelph Storm
- Flint Firebirds
Established in 2017, the OHL U18 Priority Selection is a two-round process save and except for the allowance for an additional selection by a team in the third round if they’ve chosen a goaltender with one of their first two selections.
Players eligible to be selected are those 2003 or 2004-born U18 AAA players not currently on a CHL member team protected list who were registered within the OHF, HNO or HEO during the 2020-21 playing season.
The U18 Priority Selection Draft will also be broadcast live on the OHL's YouTube channel.
